...With... BOOK and VERSE

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 36, 20 March 1931, Unnumbered Page

...With... BOOK and VERSE

By

John

O'Dreams

[HERE are ‘those in New Zealand . who know: and treasure certain." s by John Freeman’ appearing a or two anthologies. After his death, lamentably when onty fortyeight years of age, a. collection: of . his ’ Last Poems was made, ‘and is how: available to- that small and select ~ band of Jiterature lovers who have -received his work with"acclamation, The interest and beauty of this: last-book of verses is enhanced by introduction — by Mr. J. ©. Squire, and I. gannot do better than quote from his s¢knowledgement of the ‘quality of Freeman’s work: "He did not wear his heart on his sleeve, but those who are fit may find the key, and when they do they will discover that, except .only ‘the late Robert Bridges, he was love's truest scholar among -modern. poets. Werte all his love poetry assembled, Swinburne’s words might far" more aptly be applied to it than to Gautier’s cented novel: "This is a gélden book of spirit and sense.’"" * * # FAR cry indeed from sickly-sweet romances of past days to Mr. Temple Thurston’s latest thriller, "Man in a Black Hat." Here we have a weird protagonist,~ "who combines ancient lore and mystery, rendering: him able at will to roam arid mysterious oceult forces, while mitaculously preserving youth and* ability to . snap fingers at darkness of déath. This is a novel that- will he read eagerly from cover to cover by those who, in dim hours of midnight;: like flesh to creep and hair to stiffen in ‘vicarious horror and amaze, * * ** HOSE who aspire, to : histrionic ’. prominence assuredly should study ‘iiss Kate Emil-Behuke’s "Speech and Movement on the Stage," recently published by the Oxford University Press. At a time when there is so unmistakable a recrudescence ofinterest in the. drama, a perusal of its useful pages is’ to be commended. In~the -prevailing . slipshod speech, the author deplores the fact that unaécented yowels are frequently omitted, go that "To be er not to be" becomes "1 be or not.t’ be," while Juliet often is guilty of "Come, file" instead of "Come, phial!" -A bank in the Strand becomes ‘a benk in the Strend, and in place of "educate" unlovely use is made of "ejucate." "¥q-rinstance"’ is. an, ngly,. and, alas, Wwery common, instance of mispronunci- | ation, --Among other saspects: of technigue.dealt_with are vérse-speaking, __physfcal entiinge, and’ Voice-training. Altogether & valuable voltime for those ' who aspire to the boards, ang also for | those who don’t!

R. SEEGFRIED SASSOON has fole lowed up ‘his: alrendy brilliant literary achievement With "Memoirs of an Infantry, Officer. * Mr. Sassoon’s wonderful.and terrible poetry, once read, lingers long in the memory as bitter comment. on the-fury and horror of life in the trenches in the nightmare of the war years. With the passing of time, however, which mercifully brings something ‘of, oblivion, ‘this young ard gifted writer-would seem to have shed much of hig. revolt against fate. His latest book is an atcount of his experiences as a Welsh Fusilier in the line, in camp, and in hospital. Mr.. Sassoon no longer dwells.on horror ,piled on horror, but gives.a succinct and vivid portrayal of events ‘and personages that came within his line of vision and action. hose familiar with his imaginative vision and poetie quality will look eagerly for this outstanding addition to war literature.